Photographic camera.



Patented Apr.|5, |902. H. E. `HIGKX. PHTGRAPHIC CAMERA. v/Appummm medoct. 14, 1901).)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

M @E M.

XMI,

Uma, whsmwcrou u c No. 697,624.. Patented Apr. l5, |902.

H. E. HICKUX. PHOTOGRAPHIE CAMERA.

(Application led Oct. 14, 1901.\ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HERBERT EDWARD moKoX, or GREAT YARMOUTH, ENGLAND.

PHoToGRAPl-ilo CAMERA.

SPECFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,624, dated April 15,1902. Application filed October 14, 1901. Serial Nor 78,626. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ teh/071e it may oon/cern:

Be it known that LHERBERT EDWARD Hick- OX, of No. 13 Row 136, SouthQuay, Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras; and l dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to an improved form of construction of amagazine-camera which is specially suitable for use with positiveferrotype-plates, the development and fixing of which are provided forwithin kthe camera itself and can be performed immediately after thephotograph has been taken.

According to my invention the camera is constructed in threecompartments -the camera proper, which is provided with a shutterclosedaperture in front of a lens, which lens is made adjustable in positionfor focusing purposes, a magazine-compartment which lcontains the platesheld in reverse for use, and a compartment wherein the operations ofdeveloping and xing are performed. The two former compartments areconstructed in one piece divided by a light-tight partition, and this ishinged at one side to the portion of the camera which contains the thirdcompartment, so that it may be turned through a right angle relativelyto it. The second portion serves as the base of the vcamera and isprovided with means of attachment to a camera-stand. The twofirst-mentioned compartments have a back end piece common to the two,the length of which is equal to the width of about threesuchcompartments and which is constructed to slide light-tighttransversely in a direction from one compartment to the other. In oneend third of the length of this slide a semitransparent'focusing-screenis provided, which is preferably opaque to actinic rays. In the middlethird of the length a recess isjformed of just the size and depth toreceive a plate and its carrier, the third portion of the length of theslide being quite v plain. lVhen the slide is in its extreme positionone way, the focusing-screen is at the back of the camera proper, andby-opening the shutter the operator is then able to look through andadjust the lens to focus the subject to be photographed, after which theshut-A ter is automatically closed. At this time also the recess in thecenter of the slide is at the back end of the magazine, and by theelastic force of a coiled spring, which is inserted between the stock ofreserve plates and the other end of the magazine, one carrier and theplate which it contains are thrust into the recess. If now the slide ismoved a distance equal to the width of one compartment, the plate in therecess will be conveyed into the position previously occupied by thefocusingscreen, and on raising the shutter the photograph will be taken.At this time the magazine is closed by the plain end portion of theslide. In the bottom of the recess in the slide a movable shelf isprovided, which lis held in place by a spring. This shelf sustains theplate and carrier in the recess until it is withdrawn in opposition tothe force of the spring,- when the plate, with its carrier, is allowedto drop vertically into a holdingframe fitted with a lifting-handlecontained in a vessel underneath the shelf, which is supplied withdeveloping solution. After a sufficient length of time the developingvessel is withdrawn from being underneath the slide, and the holdercontaining the' carrier and plate is lifted and immersed in a fixingsolution, which is contained in an adjacent Vessel. When the process offixing is completed, the photograph only requires Washing tobe'flnished. The whole operation may be repeated as many times as thereare plates in the magazine. All the movements requisite are to replacethe developing-bath, to move the slide into position to receive a freshplate from the 1nagazine,to transfer the plate to the camera proper by areverse movement of the slide, and, after opening the shutter, to withdraw the shelf and drop the plate into the developer, from which, aftera lapse of time, it is transferred to the fixing-bath. The plates usedare oblong, and for some pictures the long side is required to bevertical, While for others it should be horizontal. In the normalposition of the portion containing the camera proper, which is hinged tothe lower portion or base, it is in general arranged that the long sideof the plates shall be vertical; but by turning the hinged portionthrough a IOC) right angle relatively to the base a photograph can betaken with the long side horizontal. A hinged bracket and dovetailedgroove are provided to rigidly secure the hinged portion in thatposition and a spring-catch to secure it when in the normal position.After having taken a photograph with the long side vertical the hingedportion of the camera must be turned down into the normal position, andthen on withdrawing the shelf the plate will drop into thedeveloping-bath,which will then be underneath it.

When it is desired that the exposed plates should not be developed andfixed at once, the vessels containing the solutions may be replaced by alight-tight box into which the plates may be dropped from the shelf, tobe afterward developed and fixed at leisure.

In order that the construction of my improved camera may be clearlyunderstood in all its details, I willnow. refer tothe annexed drawings,which form a portion of my specification.

On Sheet l, Figure l shows a rear View of the camera with the uppercompartments in the normal position, suitable for taking a photographwith the long side of the plate in the vertical position, the slidebeing in the situation for focusing. Fig. 2 shows a rear view with theupper compartments turned through a right angle into a position suitablefor taking a photograph with the long side of the plate horizontal. Inthis figure the developing vessel is shown in section. Fig. 3 is a planof the slide detached from the camera, a portion being in section toshow the construction of the movable shelf and spring. On Sheet 2, Fig.4 shows a section of the magazine-compartment, taken through the line 44 of Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a section of the carnera proper, takenthrough the line 5 5 of Fig. l., but with the slide shifted into aposition for exposing a plate, and for allowing it to drop into thedeveloping-bath the shelf is shown Withdrawn and the plate in the act offalling.

In the' Views, C is the camera-compartment, with lens L and shutter S',F S being the foreusing-screen.

M S is the movable shelf retained in position forsnstaining alplate by aspring shown in Fig. 3, the shelf being shown withdrawn in Fig. 5.

I His an inspection-hole through the slide, which enables the operatorto be sure that he has a plate in position for taking a photograph andthat the plate has dropped into the developing vessel on the withdrawalof the shelf.

M is the magazine.

P P are photographic plates in reserve, which are pressed toward thesliding back S B by means of the coiled spring C S, a block B beinginterposed, which is thicker than a plate. lVhen the plates areexhausted, the block partially enters the recess, which is only deepenough to receive one plate at a time, and then the slide will beprevented from being shifted into the photographing position. Theoperator will in this way be informed that all the plates are exhaustedand require renewal. To refill the magazine, the slide must be removedor slid a greater distance to the right. To allow this to be done, theblock B must be pushed back against the compressive force of the springby means of a pencil or other instrument inserted through theinspection-hole I H, also a spring-catch S C must be lifted. Tofacilitate the recharging of the magazine, the end of the coiled springmay be drawn back by asti-ing which passes through the string-hole S Hand be secured by a ring to a stud S2. A springcatch S C' is provided toprevent the sliding back S B from being pushed beyond the properposition for taking a photograph unless the catch is lifted.

R is a rib on the slide in line with the movable shelf. It occupies thegroove which is required for the movable shelf in the absence of theshelf and so prevents the penetration of light.

D V is the developing vessel containing a holding-frame H F, into whichthe photographic plate drops when the movable shelf M S is drawn back.Vhen the development is completed, the box containing the vessel D V canbe drawn sufficiently into the open to permit the holder containing theplate to be lifted out of the developer and immersed in the fixingsolution which is contained in the vessel F V.

"When it is desired to take a photograph with the long side of the platehorizontal, the spring-catch S C2 is pressed, releasing the piececontaining the two compartments U and M, which is turned around thehinge H into the position shown in Fig. 2, the folding bracketF B, whichordinarily lies folded back in a recess above the hinge, (see Fig. 1,)being turned about its own hinge, so that the dovetailed groove D G,which is formed in it, is caused to fit over a corresponding projectionwhich is secured to the lower portion or base B2 of the camera. Afterthe photograph has been taken in this position the bracket is pressedoff the dovetailed projection and the portion carrying the plates isrestored to the position shown in Fig. l. rIhe shelf M S may now bewithdrawn and the exposed plate dropped into the developing vessel D V.

If an ordinarylight-tight box is substituted for the box which carriesthe developing and fixing vessels, the plates can be dropped into it toawait development and fixing in the ordinary way in a dark room.

I claiml. A photographic camera consisting of three compartments, two ofwhich are made in one piece and have a common sliding back provided witha shallow recess for holding a plate, a focusing-screen and a movableshelf to drop the exposed plate out of the camera, one of these twocompartments being fitted to contain a number of reserve plates whichare IOO iio

spring-pressed against the sliding back, the other compartment beingprovided with an adjustable lens and hinged shutter, and a thirdcompartment provided with two vessels one containing a developingsolution and the other a fixing solution the former vesselrlying closeunder the movable shelf in the position occupied when a plate isexposed, substantially as described and shown.

2. A photographic ycamera consisting of three compartments two of whichare made in one piece witha common'sliding back fitted with a movableshelf, one of these two compartments being a magazine of reserve platesand the other a camera proper, these two compartments being hinged tothe third compart-

